An Extraordinary Destination

S

ince Bradford Christian Academy opened in 2004, we have strategically chosen to invest our resources in “people and programs” over facilities to provide a first-rate Christian education. We appreciate that BCA is first and foremost a community, not a building. While we retain this foundational value, it is clear that we must develop new middle and high school facilities to:

Create long-term stability and permanence

Maximize opportunities for learning, recreating, and strengthening community ties

Achieve operational and economic efficiency

Accommodate growth

After two years spent researching our facilities needs and existing properties in our region, we concluded that new construction is the best option to achieve our long-range facilities goals. New construction allows us to develop facilities in financially manageable phases instead of carrying the cost of existing facilities as we renovate them over time and enables us to maintain maximum flexibility in design to best meet our educational goals.

An Extraordinary Future

Our History

In 2004, Bradford launched with 44 students in grades 6-9 in the former Haverhill public Knipe School which Bradford purchased from the City. Adding a grade each year the school grew steadily and in June 2008, the first senior class graduated — all college bound.

In 2007 Bradford opened its performing arts program committing to provide a wide range of arts opportunities for students. Each year we stage two or three plays. We compete annually in the Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild, and we draw a thousand patrons to each of our productions. More importantly, our students gain the confidence of artistic expression as they participate in performance arts over their years at Bradford.

In 2008 Bradford received permission from the federal government to admit students from other countries. Today ten percent of our students come from outside of the United States. Also in 2008 BCA hired an athletic director to grow our competitive athletics. Middle and high school soccer and basketball teams are the foundation of our athletics program.

In 2009 Bradford relocated its high school program to 320 South Main Street, Haverhill in an innovative partnership with Zion Bible College. This move provided the educational facilities necessary to serve more students.

In 2010 Bradford received accreditation from New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), the nation’s oldest accrediting institution, and from Christian Schools International (CSI).

In 2013 Bradford Christian Academy opened grades 1 through 4 in September 2013, creating the opportunity to educate all students in grades 1-12.

In 2016 Bradford Christian Academy
moved its high school to expanded facilities at 514 Main Street, Haverhill. Through another innovative partnership, this time with Temple Emanu-El, the school secured more classrooms, science labs, a gymnasium, and a library.

In 2016 Bradford Christian Academy
launched a multi-year development plan to establish permanent, owned facilities to house the middle and high school programs as well as athletic and performing arts venues.

In 2017 Bradford Christian Academy received approval from the College Board to confer an Advanced Placement Capstone Diploma to students who successfully complete the program’s requirements. BCA is currently one of a handful of private high schools to have achieved this distinction.